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sadMust / Must have

Conclusions

 

 

 

We often try to guess what is happening in a situation that we see.  Might is used for guesses.

With a little more background information we can better judge what is happening.  Must is used for making conclusions.

 

Guessing vs. Concluding
MIGHT  HAVE MUST HAVE

A guess based on a little information

An informed guess (conclusion, inference, deduction) based on more information.

She's sad. She might miss her family or she might be disappointed.

Also, she is alone. She has nothing but a glass of absinthe (strong alcohol).

She must be depressed.

He looks tired.  He might be working late or he might be partying at night.

Also, he is handing his boss the annual report.

He must have been working late last night to finish the report.

The farmer's market had no plastic bags.  They might have been out of bags.  They might have expected customers to bring their own bags.

Also, other people in the market had their own bags.   The market must have expected people to bring their own bags.

 

 

 

Other Expressions
OUGHT TO / IT'S A GOOD IDEA HAVE TO

ADVISABLE    (a good idea)

NECESSARY (imperative)

I ought to install solar panels on my roof.

We have to use more alternative energy sources.

You ought not to use your fireplace very often.

Everyone hass to save energy.

It's a good idea to leave your car in your garage.

People have to make changes in their habits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sentence Forms

Word Order

 

 

 

Must - Must Have
  MUST MUST HAVE

STATEMENT

             We must be lost. 

            We must have taken a wrong turn back there.  

NEGATIVE

             We must not be in Kansas anymore.

            We mustn't have seen the turn to the Grand Canyon

QUESTION

             (Conclusion is not logically a question.)

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice

Making Guesses or Conclusions

 

 

  1. Read the context and then decide which modal to use.
  2. * indicates and incorrect answer.
  3. Compare your answer to the comment in the feedback box. 

 

#   YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
1. cd Whose DVD is this? –  It


It has your name on it. –  mine then.
2. butcher The man is in a shop and is cutting meat. He a butcher.


3. chef What's the woman making? –
4. Cafe Neo What kind of game was this man playing? –
5. potter How does he "throw" such a big pot?
6. sun glasses Where did she get those glasses?
7. Dogapillar Is that a dog or a caterpillar?
8 island Where is this island?  –   It  
     

 

 

 

 

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